A mother-of-two has paid tribute to the "brilliant" nurses and doctors at the Rosie in Cambridge who saved the life of her baby boy when he was born prematurely - and the charity that supported her family throughout.

Flynn Ledster was born on May 2 last year at just 27 weeks.

He was put on a ventilator and whisked off to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and it was not until five hours later that his mum Helen, 38, got to see him.

"For most women it's really hard," she told the News. "For me, I didn't know anything different because the same thing happened with my first child [he was premature]. For me, it was my normal.

"I knew that I could see him whenever I wanted which I did."

Flynn was born at just 27 weeks (Image: Keith Jones)

Weighing just 2lbs 4oz, Flynn underwent numerous treatments and tests in the first few weeks to help him combat chronic lung disease, a hole in the heart and other problems which came with being so premature.

He was so poorly, he was put in intensive care on NICU and Helen later found out he was the eighth sickest baby on the unit.

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After coming off the ventilator, it seemed Flynn was getting better but at just three weeks old he got septicaemia and became critically ill.

Flynn pictured in hospital

"He stopped breathing, he had given up," said Helen, who works as a teacher. "They had to re-ventilate him. That's when he had septicemia. He was so sick. That weekend was hard.

"Afterwards the nurses said they didn't think he would make it through that weekend but he did. He's a little fighter."

Flynn was severely ill for three days then to everyone's amazement, he gradually began to get better.

As Helen and her family lives 40 miles away in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, the Sick Children's Trust offered her free accommodation at Chestnut House so she could be with Flynn while he was in hospital - and it meant her husband Daniel, 36, and their son Bradley, 7, could visit at weekends.

Flynn Ledster with his parents Helen and Daniel and brother Bradley, 7.

Flynn was in NICU for 16 weeks, and Helen lived at Chestnut House for eight of those before he was transferred to Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow.

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"You can't meet more caring people, not only for the babies but for the families too. We will always be in contact with them. They are all brilliant."

Helen and Daniel are supporting the Sick Children's Trust's annual fundraiser, the Big Chocolate Tea which runs from April 21 to May 1.

This week she joined other mums and their babies at Chestnut House in Cambridge on Tuesday (March 14) for a Big Chocolate Tea event.

Some of the children and parents who have stayed in Chestnut house with a number of the staff. (Image: Keith Jones)

People are encouraged to take part by hosting a tea party, cake sale or bake-off and donate the proceeds to The Sick Children’s Trust to support families with seriously ill children in hospital across the UK.

Last year, the campaign raised £60,000 which provided 2,000 families with free ‘Home from Home’ accommodation for one night, while their child underwent lifesaving treatment in hospital and this year, the charity hopes to raise even more.

"It's amazing charity," added Helen. "We both feel there's not enough [homes from home]. Even just at Addenbrooke's there's eight rooms and they have at least 40 babies there from all over the county.

"It's really important they get the money to build more buildings like this and keep the ones there already open. It's such a lifeline and means you can be with your child."

To find out how you can get involved, email bigchoctea@sickchildrenstrust.org or click here.